EPL Soccer DFS – Week 3 08/26/23 – Main Slate Preview

What’s up Army! Our EPL hot streak continued in Week 2, we had multiple members bringing home incredible ROI. TwoOfDr consistency streak and 5/5 profitable wins. Loslobos coming second in DK big GPP winning $1,500 and less than 2 points off the take down, while Reb329 punched his first KOTP ticket of the season! We build on that again this week and take over these contests to prove why we’re the best team in the business… can’t wait to see the screenshots!

English Premier League – Week 3 08/26/23 – Main Slate Preview

A four game main slate of action this week with some good match ups and strong leverage spots, be sure to check out our cheat sheets and dedicated soccer discord channel to keep up to date with cores, top plays and sneak spots to leverage tournaments and take down the competition.

Fulham @ Arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to continue their streak of London derby dominance this week hosting Fulham at the Emirates. Arsenal ground out a victory on Monday whilst Fulham were put to the sword by Brentford last weekend and their outlook is bleak.

Arsenal struggled against Palace for large period, particularly after the red card when it was backs to the wall but they dug deep and held on, showing some great character. Arsenal hit their 200^th clean sheet away from home on Monday night but for some reason they only have one shut out from their last eight EPL games on home soil. Fulham’s current form doesn’t show signs of troubling this Arsenal team.

For Fulham, Mitrovic has finally left the building with his transfer to Saudi Arabia, they really need a striker before the transfer window closes. Raul Jimenez hasn’t shown anything yet this season of being able to fill that void, and they don’t even take many shots, I don’t see them troubling Arsenal here, they haven’t lost to Fulham in their last 10 games.

Tomiyasu is suspended for this game and Timber remains injured, Jesus and Balogun also remain on the sidelines along with Lokonga but he is probably leaving the club before the transfer window closes.

Good news for the Arse, Zinchenko is back and ready to go, likely steps in for Tomiyasu and I think Gabriel might finally get his start this week after he impressed as a sub in the final 30 mins vs Palace, as long as he doesn’t pick up a “knock” in training.

Tim Ream picked up a red for Fulham against Brentford so Calvin Bassey should start alongside Diop. Aside from that, Fulham are at full strength, even if that’s the strength of Rotherham Under 10’s. Adama Traore might be in line for his EPL debut this week after coming on as a sub.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Traore, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez

Prediction: 3-0 to Arsenal

Crystal Palace @ Brentford

Brentford host Palace this week in their third London derby in as many weeks. Brentford smashed Fulham 3-0 last week while Palace lost to Arsenal on Monday night but gave them a great game. Mbeumo and Wissa have been on fire for Brentford, I’ve been really impressed with them, they currently sit 4^th position with only Brighton having more goals so far. If you include the end of last season, Brentford have secured 13 of the 15 league points available to them and they have scored in their last 14 home games. Here’s a stat for you – since the beginning of last season, only Arsenal and Newcastle have beaten Brentford at their home ground in the EPL.

Palace have only lost two of their last six away matches, but all 4 of their previous games vs Brentford have ended in a tie.

Brentford will be without the parlay machine Ivan Toney until 2024 and Ben Mee / Josh Dasilva are both injured, whilst Mee could make it in time for this weekend, I think at best he will be on the bench. They probably go with the same lineup and formation as last week, no reason to change.

As for Palace, no new concerns, Olise isn’t ready to go yet for another few weeks, Franca has a lower back issue and Will Hughes remains injured until mid-September.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Pinnock, Henry; Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Lerma, Doucoure; Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard

Prediction: This is difficult to chose as so even by lean Brentford 2-1 as they’re home.

Wolves @ Everton

This game is just all round gross, I’m trying to think of something positive to say, both got pumped and conceded 4 goals each last week after decent showings in week 1 (positivity!).

I called Everton going down at the start of the season and so far, that is the case. Pointless and Goalless across the first two games, they are dead last and still have zero signings or anyone who can score goals. They haven’t scored two goals at home since October last year and lost four of their last five at home, other than the 1-0 win over Bournemouth on final day when their lives were on the line.

Wolves got pumped in all areas last week vs Brighton, I didn’t expect them to show the form they did against Man Utd but didn’t expect them to fall apart completely either. They are only above Everton on goal difference at this stage, that’s what we have on show in this game. Wolves are on a three-game losing streak and five game winless streak in the EPL now. They have lost in five of their last five away from home, only beating demoted Southampton away in all of 2023. Wolves won this game 2-1 last year in the final minute and drew 1-1 at home.

Glassman Calvert Lewin is out as expected and Iwobi has tweaked a hamstring. Dele Alli, Coleman, Harrison, McNeil are all out. Andre Gomes and Chermiti are maybes, but we won’t know until closer to KO.

Wolves wise, Nunes had an offer rejected for him from Man City but is banned this weekend anyway. Sarabia most likely to replace him. I think Hwang probably starts too, after ruling out Brighton’s clean sheet as a substitute last week.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye; Garner, Doucoure, Onana, Danjuma; Maupay

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Gomes, Lemina, Neto; Cunha, Hwang

Prediction: Tie or either team could sneak 1-0, Wolves more likely.

Nottingham Forest @ Manchester United

Man Utd are off to a bad start which we seem to be used to these days. Did not look good against Wolves and got a 2-0 beating from Spurs last weekend. If Forest can pull off a win here it would be the first time in 29 years.

Man Utd did create chances last week, they hit the woodwork three times in the first half and dominated for large periods, Spurs out played them in the second half with Sarr scoring and a Martinez own goal. United lost the mid field battle by a big margin in the second half last week and they have only won three of their last 11 EPL games away from home since the start of 2023. United haven’t lost at Old Trafford since opening day last year though and I think they will be gunning for a performance here. They played Forest four times last season and won all four without conceding a goal and won this fixture 3-0, I have to lean with more of the same this week.

Forest lost to Arsenal opening day 2-1 as we expected and beat Sheffield by the same scoreline last weekend. Awoniyi is on absolute fire, and keeps scoring which is the only reason to doubt United keeping this clean in my opinion. They are also boosted by the arrival of Hamer, who kicked off his EPL account with a goal last week and should be better for the extra week of practice. Forest strength is playing at their home ground which kept them in the EPL but their road form is amongst the worst in the league, losing 13 or 19 matches last term. They have lost more games against Man Utd than any other team, they last beat them back in 1994.

I am hearing Rasmus Hojlund should be available to make his debut for the Red Devils this weekend, most likely from the bench I expect, Mason Mount is out for up to six weeks. I think Ten Hag probably starts Sancho this week and either Eriksen or McTominay to go alongside Bruno and Casemiro in midfield.

Forest new signing Montiel has arrived on loan this week but with Aurier providing two assists last week it remains to be seen if he will take his spot. Awoniyi and Brennan Johnson have minor fitness issues but should start, both unlikely to play 90 minutes and Gibbs-White, Elanga should make up their attacking unit. Elanga grew up in the United academy but never found his feet in the first team, he will know them and their system.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Rashford, Sancho

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Turner; Boly, Worrall, McKenna; Aurier, Danilo, Yates, Williams; Johnson, Gibbs-White; Awoniyi

Prediction: 3-1 to Man Utd

That’s our breakdown for this week, be sure to check out our cheat sheets and discord channel for our expert picks, tips and strategy and lets keep rolling, Helmets up!